Stress-busting tips this Christmas

Health, Beauty and Lifestyle with Denise McNamara

Christmas can be a wonderful time to take a well-earned break and relax with family and friends in cosy environs.  But it can also leave some of us feeling overwhelmed by the rigid traditions and being unable to cope with having to deal with the close proximity of relations.

Psychotherapist Evelyn Doyle of Serenity Psychotherapy at The Health Hub in Loughrea shares her tips to avoid getting overly stressed on this most stressful of years.

People should accept the fact that holidays don’t have to be perfect.

“As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. People often feel compelled to keep family Christmas traditions alive long past the point that anyone’s enjoying them.  Don’t keep them going for their own sake. Get the family involved in starting a new tradition instead,” she states.

Financial stress can be at its worst at this time of year. Identify what’s causing you financial stress and rather than buying gifts and attending social gatherings which can be expensive, plan ways to reduce spending.

“You could suggest to your family and friends to only buy gifts for the kids or organise a ‘secret Santa’ or ‘Kris Kringle’ among the adults. Set a budget and stick to it.”

Just because you’re related doesn’t mean your family members will all get along. Family and relationship problems regularly trigger stress and anxiety, especially at Christmas time.

To get through this, Evelyn urges us to set realistic expectations.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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